Saturday, July 16, 2005

1) Bay Area United Against War has a new meeting schedule:We will meet every third Tuesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. beginning:Tuesday, July 19, 2005,7:00 p.m. 474 Valencia Street, near 16th StreeAgenda will include Board of Education picketing update, September 24, Marx in Soho performances,Campus Not Combat petition update and publicitycampaign, and new business.All are welcome. Bring your ideas and help Organize against this war!

2) SAN FRANCISCO MIME TROUPE PRESENTS: "DOING GOOD" A play based loosely on the book, "Confessions of an Economic Hit Man", by John Perkins. JULY 16, PRECITA PARK MUSIC: 1:30 P.M. SHOW: 2:00 P.M. (This play is fresh, new, brilliantly performed, insightful, full of content, and the music is the icing on the cake!...BW) SPONSORED BY BAY AREA UNITED AGAINST WAR Help get the word out about the ballot proposition and upcoming antiwar events. Free antiwar posters! FREE!

4) Cut all Public School Ties to the Military! Speak up and Picket the S.F. Board of Education the Fourth Tuesday of Each Month. Next picket line: Tuesday, July 27, 6:30 P.M.-7:30 P.M. (The July Board of Ed. meetings have been cancelled. But we will still hold a picket July 27 at 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. in front of the Board of Education building.) The next picket line after July 27 is August 23, 6:30 P.M. -7:30 P.M. (just before school starts back.) August 23, 6:30 p.m.-7:30 P.M. 555 Franklin St., S.F, To get on the speakers list call: 415-241-6427, 241-6493 or 241-6000 (For more info call: 415-824-8730)

6) Lawmakers Agree to Renew Patriot Act By ERIC LICHTBLAU and CARL HULSE Published: July 14, 2005 WASHINGTON, July 13 - Lawmakers on three separate Congressional committees moved Wednesday to impose restrictions on some of the more controversial elements of the law known as the USA Patriot Act, suggesting continued resistance in Congress to the idea of giving the government unchecked authority to fight terrorism.http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/14/politics/14patriot.html

9) Karl Marx-Winner of the Greatest Philosopher VoteBBC RADIO 4 - UK RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR "Workers of the World Unite! You have nothing to lose but your chains", "Religion is the opium of the people", and "From each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs". That should be enough for most of you to work out whom Radio 4 listeners have voted as their favorite philosopher: the winner of the In Our Time Greatest Philosopher Vote, chosen from 20 philosophers nominated by listeners and carried through on an electoral tidal wave of 28% of our 'first-past-the-post' vote is the communist theoretician, Karl Marx.So, when you strip away the Marxist-Leninism, the Soviet era and later Marxist theory, who was Karl Marx? Where does he stand in the history of philosophy? He wrote in his Theses on Feuerbach, "Philosophers have only interpreted the world in various ways, the point, however, is to change it"-which begs the question, is he really a philosopher at all? Contributors Anthony Grayling, Professor of Philosophy at Birkbeck College, University of London Francis Wheen, journalist and author of a biography of Karl Marx Gareth Stedman Jones, Professor of Political Science at Cambridge UniversityJuly 14, 2005 http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/history/inourtime/inourtime.shtml

10) The Battle after the Battle By Les Blumenthal The News Tribune Sunday 10 July 2005 Soldiers say military pushes them to discharge before medical needs are methttp://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/071105X.shtml

11) Defend a Woman's Right to Choose! Stop the anti-abortion "Crusade for Life" Saturday, July 16th and Friday, July 23rd 8am- noon 815 Eddy St. (at Franklin), SF "Crusade for Life" will be in San Francisco from July 15-24, protesting against reproductive rights. Planned Parenthood is collecting names and phone numbers of anyone interested in being on an "on-call" list in the event of problems or harrassment by protesters. We are invited to join Planned Parenthood, Radical Women, Code Pink, and various others to defend a woman's right to choose. The "Crusade for Life" plans to disrupt our community by harassing women at health clinics from July 15-27. We need your help to defend our clinics and to send the message that the Bay Area is pro-choice and stands up for reproductive rights! Saturday, July 16 and 23: Meet at Planned Parenthood to be a visible pro-choice force.

14) American Soldiers Charged With Abuse By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Published: July 16, 2005 http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/international/AP-Iraq.html?hp&ex=1121572800&en=163cdddfd9b064f4&ei=5094&partner=homepage

17) Hello all,This is not good news, it shows how we have to unite together and stand strong against this evil system.Please read the entire article. Below is a call to participate in a rally Wednesday 20th July from 5:00pm -6:00pm in support of Sheila Detoy and Cammerin Boyd. Please spread the word and attend the rally if you can.in solidarity,Donna (more below)

19) George Galloway - Battle cry for radical change What do sweatshop workers in Bangladesh have in common with the people who work in your local supermarket? More than you might think, writes George Galloway, Respect MP The only way to make poverty history is to make the G8 history. I don't mean simply the annual jamboree for the leaders of the world's richest and most powerful states. I mean the whole nexus of exploitation and privilege that the G8 and its attendant institutions represent.http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/article.php4?article_id=6889

20) ANSWER UPCOMING EVENTS:In this message: * Postering for Sept. 24 Anti-War March in SF* Statement on Racism in the LGBT Community* Weekly Badlands Boycott Picket* ANSWER Activist Meeting - Get Involved!* ANSWER Speaker and Venezuela Film Screening in San Bruno* ANSWER ANTI-WAR TEACH-IN: The U.S. War Drive & the Anti-War MovementFor more info on the following events, call 415-821-6545.

24) Defend a Woman‚s Right to Choose!Stop the anti-abortion „Crusade for Life‰

25) Peace and Justice News from FPIFhttp://www.fpif.org/July 15, 2005 Introducing the latest policy analysis from Foreign Policy In Focus A Strategy for Ending the Iraq War By Tom Hayden

26) FREE HIP HOP SHOW AND RALLY TO CLOSE CYA YOUTH PRISONSJoin us as we bring the community together with amazing Bay Area talent to speak out against the California Youth Authority and the prison industrial complex!WHAT: 4th Annual "Not Down with the Lockdown" Hip Hop Show and Rally to Close the CYA Youth PrisonsWHERE: Frank Ogawa Plaza, 14th St. and Broadway (Downtown Oakland)WHEN: Saturday, July 16, noon-2pmFREE! All ages!WITH SPECIAL GUEST PERFORMERS:-Mista F.A.B.-Boogie Shack-Company of Prophets-Fiyawata-Dream Dance Companyand many moreSponsored by Books Not Bars and Let's Get Free ( http://www.booksnotbars.org ) and The Beat Within.Contact Books Not Bars:e-mail: bnb@ellabakercenter.orgphone: 510.428.3939Get more information about the Books Not Bars "Alternatives for Youth" Campaign: http://ellabakercenter.org/bnb/campaignWe can't survive without the support of individuals like you. Please take a moment to support us today. Donate here: http://www.ellabakercenter.org/donate* Not on our list-serve yet? (Maybe this message was forwarded to you.) Sign up to get e-mail updates directly by going this web page: http://ellabakercenter.org/subscribe

27) Please forward widely Please forward widely JUSTICE FOR Sheila detoy and cammerin boyd COMMUNITY RALLY 5:00-6:00 PM WEDNESDAY JULY 20, 2005 SAN FRANCISCO CITY PLAZA DR. GOODLETT DR. ( ACROSS FROM S.F. CITY HALL) For ten years San Francisco Police Offices have killed with impunity.

We say no more

We call on the San Francisco Police Commission to end this reign of terror. Sheila Detoy: On May 13, 1998 san Francisco Police Officers Shot Up A Car full of Unarmed Teenagers and killed 17 year Old Sheila Detoy. SFPD then tried to blame her friends for her death. Cammerin Boyd: On Wednesday, May 5, 2004, San Francisco police officers shot and killed 29 year-old Cammerin Boyd in front of dozens of witnesses. Cammerin, who was disabled, was clearly and vocally surrendering. He had his hands above his head. But the police shot him anyway.

In the coming weeks the San Francisco Police Commission will begin holding hearings on both of these cases, come out and let them know we will accept nothing less than justice. For more information call (510)428-3939 x, 242 or e-mail malaika@ellabakercenter.org

1) Bay Area United Against War has a new meeting schedule:We will meet every third Tuesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. beginning:Tuesday, July 19, 2005,7:00 p.m. 474 Valencia Street, near 16th Street

Agenda will include Board of Education picketing update, September 24, Marx in Soho performances,Campus Not Combat petition update and publicitycampaign, and new business.All are welcome. Bring your ideas and help Organize against this war!

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2) SAN FRANCISCO MIME TROUPE PRESENTS: "DOING GOOD" A play based loosely on the book, "Confessions of an Economic Hit Man", by John Perkins. JULY 16, PRECITA PARK MUSIC: 1:30 P.M. SHOW: 2:00 P.M. (This play is fresh, new, brilliantly performed, insightful, full of content, and the music is the icing on the cake!...BW) SPONSORED BY BAY AREA UNITED AGAINST WAR Help get the word out about the ballot proposition and upcoming antiwar events. Free antiwar posters!

The premise of the play is that Marx dies yet he isable to see what's happening on earth for 100 years since his death in 1883. He is supposed to go back to Soho in London but, by mistake, is sent to Sohoin New York and finds himself on stage before an audience. Imagine all Karl Marx would have to say after one hundred years of just being able to watch...

The single actor in this one-man play is Jerry Levy, who has been teaching sociology at Marlboro College and been acting with the Actors' Theater of Brattleboro since he moved there from Chicago in 1975. Originally directed by Michael Fox Kennedy of the Actors' Theater, Levy has been on the road with Zinn's version of Karl Marx for a year, performing at benefits, colleges, small theaters and other venues around the state. At Middle Earth he was sponsored by the Bradford-based Coos Peace and Justice Alliance and performed free of charge but charged with mighty talent and a bottomless love of the play.

*The Jon Sims Center is located at 1519 Mission Street (between 11th Street and South Van Ness), South of Market, San Francisco, CA 94103 BY CAR: From the East Bay: Take 80 North then 101 North to the Mission Street exit. Stay on the right hand side of the exit. Turn right off the exit, and stay on Mission Street. The Jon Sims Center is two blocks past Van Ness, next to Firestone.

From the South Bay: Take 101 North to the Mission Street Exit. Stay on the right hand side of the exit. Turn right off the exit, and stay on Mission Street. The Jon Sims Center is two blocks past Van Ness, next to Firestone.

From the North Bay: Take 101 South to Lombard, make a right on Van Ness and then a left onto Mission. Jon Sims Center is two blocks past Van Ness, next to Firestone.

Parking: Daytime parking is very difficult. We encourage day users to take public transportation. In the evening, street parking along Mission Street, Minna Street and 11th Street is not horrible (in San Francisco terms) after 6:00 PM, but the closer you are to 6:00 PM, the better your chances of finding parking. There is no parking along Mission between 4-6 PM, and you will be promptly towed.

VIA BART/MUNI/SAMTRANS: Go to http://www.transitinfo.org for more information about Bay Area public transportation.

BART: Take BART to the Civic Center station, then transfer to the outbound Muni J,K,L,M or N train. Exit at the next stop (Van Ness Station). Walk 1 block south, cross Mission, and the Jon Sims Center is next to Firestone.

MUNI: The Jon Sims Center is 1 block south of the Van Ness Muni underground station, accessible from any Muni streetcar. Additionally, the 14 Mission, 42 Loop 49 and 47 Van Ness bus stop at Mission and 11th Street, only 1/2 block from the Jon Sims Center. Current Muni fare is $1.25.

SamTrans: The SamTrans DX, KX, MX, NX, PX, RX and TX buses stops at Mission and 9th Streets. Walk three blocks west (towards Sutro tower) to reach the Jon Sims Center. Current SamTrans fare is $1.10. Please note that SamTrans buses to the City only run during rush hours.

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4) Cut all Public School Ties to the Military! Speak up and Picket the S.F. Board of Education the Fourth Tuesday of Each Month. Next picket line: Tuesday, July 27, 6:30 P.M.-7:30 P.M. (The July Board of Ed. meetings have been cancelled. But we will still hold a picket July 27 at 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. in front of the Board of Education building.) The next picket line after July 27 is August 23, 6:30 P.M. -7:30 P.M. (just before school starts back.) August 23, 6:30 p.m.-7:30 P.M. 555 Franklin St., S.F, To get on the speakers list call: 415-241-6427, 241-6493 or 241-6000 (For more info call: 415-824-8730)

6) Lawmakers Agree to Renew Patriot Act By ERIC LICHTBLAU and CARL HULSE Published: July 14, 2005 WASHINGTON, July 13 - Lawmakers on three separate Congressional committees moved Wednesday to impose restrictions on some of the more controversial elements of the law known as the USA Patriot Act, suggesting continued resistance in Congress to the idea of giving the government unchecked authority to fight terrorism.http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/14/politics/14patriot.html

He was on his way to drive his family to a swimming pool in western Baghdad when he was struck by a single bullet to head - he died instantly.

Some say he was an unintentional casualty of war. Some whisper "the wolves got him."

You see, since May, Dr. Salihee, had been reporting on the similarities between the death squads used in El Salvador to obliterate their "insurgency" and the US military's creation of the "Wolf Brigade" that has been unleashed to eliminate the Iraqi "insurgency." Our government calls it Operation Lightening.

To be clear, there is no shame in the game of the US military - they make no secret that the Wolf Brigade is modeled after the death squads in El Salvador. In fact, up until April 2005, the main advisor to the Wolf Brigade was a man named James Steele.

According to New York Times Magazine, Jim Steele was in charge of a team of 55 Special Forces advisers in El Salvador who "trained front-line battalions that were accused of significant human rights abuses." In fact while Jim Steele was in charge, "whole villages were targeted by the armed forces and their inhabitants massacred.''

When battered and methodically beaten dead bodies started showing up in Iraq, Dr Salihee started reporting. Dr Salihee wrote about bodies in the morgue with their hands tied or handcuffed behind their backs. Bodies with their eyes blindfolded appearing to have been tortured, whipped with cords and subjected to electric shocks. Bodies beaten with blunt objects and shot to death, often with a single bullet. Bodies found in mass graves and bodies floating in rivers.

Dr Salihee also reported that many of the members of the Wolf Brigade came from Saddam Hussein's Special Forces and Republican Guards. Indeed, these men were decorated veterans of homicide, genocide and torture.

On June 28th 2005, the Philadelphia Inquirer ran Dr Salihee's last article. The very first sentence read: "Days after Iraq's new Shiite-led government was announced on April 28, the director of Baghdad's central morgue began noticing that the bodies of Sunni Muslim men were turning up after the men had been detained by people wearing Iraqi police uniforms."

Dr Salihee, along with reporter Tom Lasseter, went on to state: "further evidence that a police force created, trained and funded by the United States has been abusing human rights ...would complicate the Bush administration's efforts to muster greater domestic support for its Iraq policy."

The most chilling words however, were the words from the mouth of a young man who was abducted by men in police uniforms. "The commandos told me to keep the body outside of the refrigerator so that the dogs could eat it because he's a terrorist and he deserves it."

Yasser Salihee, translator, physician, special correspondent, husband, father to two-year-old Danya, was killed 4 days before his story ran.

The Wolf Brigade says that they are patriots. They utilize television to depict the insurgency's humiliation. In fact, "Terrorist in the Grip of Justice" is the most watched TV program in the country. They wear snappy red berets and ride around in white $55,000 vehicles. When children get too out of hand their parents threaten them with "calling the wolves." One young man was quoted as saying "when I see them I feel safe. I feel we have a country with a government."

It appears Operation Lightning has quite a fan base.

I remember a time in the United States when bodies with their hands tied behind their backs were found floating in rivers. Bodies never identified by loved ones. Bodies buried in mass graves.

The organization that put them there has quite a fan base too.

A few weeks ago, during the trial of the Klansman that helped kill and then bury the bodies of three young men, former Mayor Harlan Majure, testified that Klansman Edgar Ray Killen was a good man and the Klan "did a lot of good up here".

Three young men, civil rights workers, were shot and killed forty years ago because "the law" in the land of Mississippi branded them trouble makers.

In 1892, Fredrick Douglas said "Crime has a power to reproduce itself and create conditions favorable to its own existence."

Yasser Salihee is dead. Lizz Brown is host of the Morning Wake Up Call, WGNU Radio, St. Louis. She can be reached through her website: http://www.lizzbrown.com/ Marxism mailing listMarxism@lists.econ.utah.eduhttp://lists.econ.utah.edu/mailman/listinfo/marxism

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9) Karl Marx-Winner of the Greatest Philosopher VoteBBC RADIO 4 - UK RADIO STATION OF THE YEAR "Workers of the World Unite! You have nothing to lose but your chains", "Religion is the opium of the people", and "From each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs". That should be enough for most of you to work out whom Radio 4 listeners have voted as their favorite philosopher: the winner of the In Our Time Greatest Philosopher Vote, chosen from 20 philosophers nominated by listeners and carried through on an electoral tidal wave of 28% of our 'first-past-the-post' vote is the communist theoretician, Karl Marx.So, when you strip away the Marxist-Leninism, the Soviet era and later Marxist theory, who was Karl Marx? Where does he stand in the history of philosophy? He wrote in his Theses on Feuerbach, "Philosophers have only interpreted the world in various ways, the point, however, is to change it"-which begs the question, is he really a philosopher at all? Contributors Anthony Grayling, Professor of Philosophy at Birkbeck College, University of London Francis Wheen, journalist and author of a biography of Karl Marx Gareth Stedman Jones, Professor of Political Science at Cambridge UniversityJuly 14, 2005 http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/history/inourtime/inourtime.shtml

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10) The Battle after the Battle By Les Blumenthal The News Tribune Sunday 10 July 2005 Soldiers say military pushes them to discharge before medical needs are methttp://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/071105X.shtml

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11) Defend a Woman's Right to Choose! Stop the anti-abortion "Crusade for Life" Saturday, July 16th and Friday, July 23rd 8am- noon 815 Eddy St. (at Franklin), SF "Crusade for Life" will be in San Francisco from July 15-24, protesting against reproductive rights. Planned Parenthood is collecting names and phone numbers of anyone interested in being on an "on-call" list in the event of problems or harrassment by protesters. We are invited to join Planned Parenthood, Radical Women, Code Pink, and various others to defend a woman's right to choose. The "Crusade for Life" plans to disrupt our community by harassing women at health clinics from July 15-27. We need your help to defend our clinics and to send the message that the Bay Area is pro-choice and stands up for reproductive rights! Saturday, July 16 and 23: Meet at Planned Parenthood to be a visible pro-choice force.

United for Peace and Justice is circulating this memo to explain the political reasoning behind our organizing approach for the September 24-26 mobilization , and to respond to concerns about our decision not to merge our September 24 demonstration with a separate anti-war event being organized that same day. We have reached a real turning point in the Iraq War. The Bush Administration is experiencing incredible pressure to change course as a result of declining U.S. popular support, growing calls within Congress and the media for military withdrawal, and continued chaos and bloodshed within Iraq.

UFPJ is organizing our three-day mobilization in Washington, D.C. from September 24-26 to increase the pressure at this strategic time. This mobilization is different from the large anti-war demonstrations we have organized in the past in several key respects, and these differences have shaped the organizing decisions that UFPJ's leadership -- a national steering committee elected by our member groups -- has made about the mobilization.

END THE WAR ON IRAQ! Visit the Fall Mobilization Section of the UFPJ website to download leaflets, endorse the Sept. 24-26 events, and/or make a much-needed financial contribution to our work.

The September mobilization comes as anti-war sentiment is dramatically growing throughout the United States. New polls indicate that up to 60% of people in this country oppose the war and believe some or all U.S. troops should be withdrawn from Iraq. If we organize in an inclusive way, with broad demands, accessible language, and an inviting style, we have the potential to organize the largest and most diverse demonstration against the war to date , with people from all walks of life coming together in a clear call to bring our troops home now. If we are willing to go outside our comfort zones and speak to people our movements don't typically reach, we have the potential to mobilize large numbers of people from outside the usual activist circles, people from a wide range of communities who are fed up with the carnage in Iraq and ready to stand up publicly for peace and justice. A truly massive turn-out for our September 24 march against the war rep color and ethnicity, every economic status, and resenting communities large and small, of every religious creed -- will dramatize to the Bush administration and Congress how unpopular and politically untenable this war has become.

The September mobilization also comes as years of intense anti-war organizing are beginning to pay off in the legislative realm , with movement in both houses of Congress to call for U.S. withdrawal from Iraq. To build on this crucial new political momentum, our three-day September mobilization against the war will focus not just on the White House but also on Congress; it will include not just the major protest march on Saturday, September 24, but also, on Monday, September 26, large-scale grassroots lobbying and a mass nonviolent civil disobedience action.

Finally, the September mobilization comes as the anti-war movement is organizing more strategically than ever , pursuing a series of grassroots campaigns that target the most vulnerable aspects of the Bush administration's war drive. These include the increasingly effective nationwide efforts to counter military recruitment, a rapidly growing campaign of anti-war organizing in faith-based communities, and the multi-state campaign against the use of the NationalGuard in Iraq. As part of our three-day mobilization, we will be providing a range of ways for people to plug into these campaigns, including an interfaith religious service, grassroots training sessions, and "interactive stations" at the anti-war festival following our Saturday march.

As part of our effort to build the most inclusive and diverse possible mobilization, UFPJ has chosen two simple, broad demands for the weekend: End the War on Iraq, Bring the Troops Home Now! These main slogans are accompanied by five additional demands that link to specific campaigns: Leave no military bases behind; End the looting of Iraq; Stop bankrupting our communities; Stop the torture; No military recruitment in our schools.

We have chosen these overarching demands for the mobilization because we believe it is politically imperative to bring the largest number of people together right now in opposition to the war on Iraq. This September, we are seeking to mobilize all opponents of the war, no matter what their positions are on other political matters, and so we have kept our demands broad and simple. At the same time, United for Peace and Justice, as a coalition, has taken strong stances on an array of issues related to the Iraq War: opposing the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories and U.S. support for that occupation; stopping torture and illegal detentions; preventing future "pre-emptive" wars against Iran, North Korea, Syria, Venezuela, Cuba or other countries; supporting the democratic struggles of the Haitian people; and challenging U.S. nuclear hegemony by demanding the elimination of nuclear weapons worldwide.

For the September mobilization, UFPJ warmly welcomes our allies in the wide array of peace and justice movements to participate in the mobilization in ways that highlight the links between their struggles and issues and the absolute necessity to end the war on Iraq. We invite all those struggling for peace and justice abroad or at home to organize contingents in our march or feeder marches to the demonstration. The September 24 march is a powerful opportunity for labor, women, communities of color, lesbian/gay/ bisexual/transgender people, immigrants, youth and students, and many other communities to stand together and say, "We cannot make headway on any of our issues without ending the war and bringing the troops home."

Some people have urged UFPJ to consider a joint demonstration with the Sept. 24 National Coalition, initiated by A.N.S.W.E.R., which is also organizing an anti-war protest on September 24. We take seriously the concerns from local organizers about the potential for confusion if there are two separate marches on September 24. Therefore, we have agreed to US Labor Against the War's proposal to convene a meeting with A.N.S.W.E.R. to work through logistical issues about the day, including the possibility of bringing the marches together. We are committed to working in good faith on this process. But because of our different approaches to organizing and how demands are articulated, we are not proposing a "unified" program that day. (See our May 23 memo to our member groups for a more detailed explanation.)

We urge all those who seek to bring this war to an end -- from national groups to local organizations to concerned individuals -- to put maximum effort into bringing new people and organizations into the nation'scapital for September 24-26. The streets of Washington, D.C. are big enough to contain all of our events and movementsthat weekend. The important thing is that the streets be filled with as many people as possible, all holding the Bush Administration and Congress accountable for the continuing devastation of this illegal and unjustified war.

END THE WAR ON IRAQ! BRING THE TROOPS HOME NOW!

Massive 3-day mobilization in Washington, D.C.

September 24-26, 2005

Visit our website today to download leaflets, endorse the mobilization, and learn more about the plans for this powerful weekend of action

14) American Soldiers Charged With Abuse By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Published: July 16, 2005 http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/international/AP-Iraq.html?hp&ex=1121572800&en=163cdddfd9b064f4&ei=5094&partner=homepage

San Francisco - Attorneys filed suit Friday against San Francisco State University (SFSU) in the name of the National Lawyers Guild (NLG) and on behalf of two student groups, Students Against War (SAW) and the International Socialist Organization (ISO). The suit arises from a protest against military recruiters on March 9th of this year that took place on the SFSU campus. The NLG accuses SFSU administrators of violating their own policies against discrimination based on sexual orientation by allowing recruiters on campus, and of violating the due process rights of the student organizations by punishing them at the end of an unfair disciplinary process.

"It was clear from the evidence we've collected that certain individuals at SFSU were bent on punishing these student groups and didn't seem to care about ensuring the student groups had a fair hearing," said Sharon Adams, an attorney member of the NLG who filed the papers in the Superior Court for the City and County of San Francisco . "It is appalling that the University would choose to punish students for basic free speech activity, while allowing military recruiters on their campus in violation of their own anti-discrimination policy."

The SFSU policy on nondiscrimination states in part: "No person shall, on the grounds of race, color, national origin, sexual orientation, religion, or age be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination, including harassment, in any program of the California State University."

"In this case, SFSU decided it wouldn't or couldn't honor its own policy and allowed the military, which discriminates against gays and lesbians, to practice their homophobic policy on campus," said Carlos Villarreal, Executive Director of the NLG San Francisco. "These student groups were both opposing the war in Iraq and enforcing SFSU's own policies, and now they are being punished through a sloppy and biased process that again has SFSU administrators violating their own processes."

Recruiters eventually left the March 9th job fair when they realized they would not be able to recruit students - an enormous victory for these student groups.

The National Lawyers Guild was founded in 1937 and includes thousands of members across the country, including hundreds of lawyers, law students and legal workers in the Bay Area.

# # #

Students Against War (SAW) is a member of the Campus Antiwar Networkhttp://www.campusantiwar.net

To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ufpj-news/

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17) Hello all,This is not good news, it shows how we have to unite together and stand strong against this evil system.Please read the entire article. Below is a call to participate in a rally Wednesday 20th July from 5:00pm -6:00pm in support of Sheila Detoy and Cammerin Boyd. Please spread the word and attend the rally if you can.in solidarity,Donna

7/13/05: Tonight, I received a call from Sgt. Reilly, the secretary ofthe San Francisco Police Commission. He informed me that late thisafternoon Superior Court Judge, James L. Warren, granted a stay in myfriend Sheila Detoy's Case. The motion for a stay was filed by theattorneys for Sgt. Greg Breslin, the cop who killed my 17 year oldfriend, Sheila Detoy.

19) George Galloway - Battle cry for radical change What do sweatshop workers in Bangladesh have in common with the people who work in your local supermarket? More than you might think, writes George Galloway, Respect MP The only way to make poverty history is to make the G8 history. I don't mean simply the annual jamboree for the leaders of the world's richest and most powerful states. I mean the whole nexus of exploitation and privilege that the G8 and its attendant institutions represent.http://www.socialistworker.co.uk/article.php4?article_id=6889

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20) ANSWER UPCOMING EVENTS:In this message: * Postering for Sept. 24 Anti-War March in SF* Statement on Racism in the LGBT Community* Weekly Badlands Boycott Picket* ANSWER Activist Meeting - Get Involved!* ANSWER Speaker and Venezuela Film Screening in San Bruno* ANSWER ANTI-WAR TEACH-IN: The U.S. War Drive & the Anti-War MovementFor more info on the following events, call 415-821-6545.

Postering for the Sept. 24 Anti-War March in San Francisco

This weekend, we will be doing neighborhood postering in SF and the East Bay. Get involved! Help spread the word about the next mass action against the war September 24.

POSTERING* Friday, July 15, Postering in SF, meet at Polk and Turk, 6pm* Saturday, July 16, Postering in the East Bay, meet at Telegraph and Alcatraz, 2pm* Saturday, July 16, Postering in SF, meet at 24th and Dolores, 2pm

Call if you would like to be paired up with someone in your neighborhood to do postering at another time. Speak to Nati or Silvio, 415-821-6545.

New posters and bilingual flyers are available to download at http://www.actionsf.org/ or pick some up anytime at the ANSWER office, 2489 Mission St. Room 24 (at 21st St.) San Francisco.----------Racism in the LGBT CommunityThe Fight in San Francisco Continues!!!

A statement from Lesbians and Gays of African Descent for Democratic Action (LGADDA) and LGBT Black Rap: Standing for Civil Rights & Social Justice for Black LGBT & Allies, on behalf of a coalition of African American LGBT leaders and organizations.

Click here to view the statement on Racism in the LGBT Community ----------

Stand against racism and demand accountability for widespread racial discrimination and create inclusion in the Castro. Join the ANSWER Coalition and other community and labor groups on the picket line.

Join us for a political update and discussion by Mario Santos from Alliance for Just and Lasting Peace in the Philippines. Also, a report on the union struggle at the SF Chronicle for a fair contract. Get involved - join in our weekly outreach planning for the Sept. 24 Anti-War March.

Wed. July 20, 6:30pm-9pmFilm Showing and ANSWER Speaker: "Chavez, Venezuela and the New Latin America"Panaderia Eduardo, 617 San Mateo Ave., San Bruno (2blks west of Huntington)6:30pm - Pastries/coffee 50 cents and up7pm-8pm - Video screening8pm-9pm - Discussion with Gloria La Riva of the ANSWER Coalition. Gloria has participated in several delegations to Venezuela.This groundbreaking new documentary by Aleida Guevara (Che Guevara's daughter), "Chávez, Venezuela and the New Latin America," explores Venezuela's explosive revolutionary terrain post-April 2002-when Hugo Chávez survived a coup attempt instigated by the United States. Featuring interviews with Hugo Chávez, President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, and Jorge García Carneiro, newly appointed head of the Venezuelan Armed Forces, along with others who are involved in the country's many social programs. This film affords a rare opportunity to glimpse through the blockade of information imposed by the United States into a country rich with hope, dreams and... oil. 2004, 55min. Spanish with English subtitles.This is a bilingual event co-sponsored by the San Bruno Greens and ANSWER.----------

A discussion on the war and how we can continue to build a powerful anti-war movement here.

Join us for a unique discussion assessing the state of the U.S. war, including the crisis in the Middle East, the expansion to other parts of the globe, and the turning tide of U.S. public opinion against the war.

We will discuss: what are the points of unity and controversy within the anti-war movement? What are the implications of different political tactics and demands? Find out more about the next major national anti-war mobilization on September 24 and what you can do to get involved.

24) Defend a Woman‚s Right to Choose!Stop the anti-abortion „Crusade for Life‰

The „Crusade for Life‰ plans to disrupt our communityby harassing women at health clinics from July 15-27. We need your help to defend our clinics and to sendthe message that the Bay Area is pro-choice and standsup for reproductive rights!

What Else You Can Do Call your local Bay Area clinic and let them knowyou are willing to help. Sign up for escort or clinicdefense training. The anti-abortionists will be inSan Francisco from July 15-24. They are planning tobe in Oakland on July 25, Berkeley on July 26, and Richmond on July 27.

 Drive by local reproductive health centers on aregular basis (especially at night) to ensure thesafety of the facility.

25) Peace and Justice News from FPIFhttp://www.fpif.org/July 15, 2005 Introducing the latest policy analysis from Foreign Policy In Focus A Strategy for Ending the Iraq War By Tom Hayden

In January 2005, a group of fifty peace activists from the Vietnam and Iraq eras issued a global appeal to end the war (online at http://www.alternet.org/waroniraq/20996/). The appeal proposed undermining the pillars of war (public opinion, funding, troop recruitment, international allies) and building the pillars of peace and justice (an independent anti-war movement linked to justice issues, a progressive Democratic opposition, soldiers and families against the war, a global network to stop the US empire). This is an update on implementation of the strategy.

Among friends and local activists, practice discussion of these multiple scenarios with plans for responding to each: 1. Status Quo/Quagmire. How do we expand local anti-war coalitions, and double membership of local groups, going into the 2006 elections? 2. Bush escalates (e.g. sends more troops, invades Syrian border, bombs Iran, resumes draft). In any of these cases, is more radical action called for? How will it impose a cost on Bush, how will it expand the movement? 3. Bush mimics Nixon, promises peace, withdraws 10,000 troops as Iraq adopts constitution and elects new government. Would this defuse the anti-war movement going into 2006? Or will we be in a mode to keep on the offense? How will we argue that the strategy will not bring peace? 4. What do you need to respond? In each scenario, what resources or adaptations does your local group need to respond?

Tom Hayden was a leader of the student, civil rights, peace and environmental movements of the 1960s. He served 18 years in the California legislature, where he chaired labor, higher education and natural resources committees. He is a professor at Occidental College, Los Angeles and a contributor to Foreign Policy In Focus (http://www.fpif.org).

See new FPIF paper online at:http://www.fpif.org/fpiftxt/155

With printer-friendly pdf version at:http://www.fpif.org./pdf/papers/0507endwar.pdf

The Left and the Iraq War By Clive Hamilton

The left has been snookered by the U.S. invasion of Iraq, for it is deeply opposed to the war yet supports the spread of democracy and civil freedoms. It is in the interests of the world that democracy should succeed in Iraq but that the U.S. has its nose bloodied in the process.

For anyone with an appreciation of the history of U.S. foreign policy, the Bush administration's dewy-eyed homilies in praise of democracy in the Middle East are nauseating. If he were serious he would act against regimes in those countries that could most easily be converted to democracy; those where autocrats rule only by dint of U.S. support. He could begin with the U.S. client regime in Saudi Arabia.

The decision to go to war in Iraq was wrong, not because Saddam was not a monstrous tyrant, but because it violated the first principle of international relations: respect for sovereignty. Without respect for sovereignty, international relations are reduced to the will of the powerful.

Dr. Clive Hamilton is Executive Director of The Australia Institute, a public interest think tank and a contributor to Foreign Policy In Focus (http://www.fpif.org).

See new FPIF commentary online at:http://www.fpif.org/fpiftxt/154

With printer-friendly pdf version athttp://www.fpif.org/pdf/gac/0507left.pdf

General Abizaid, I'm Glad You Asked By Col. Daniel Smith (Ret.)

In testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee on June 23, General John Abizaid, head of Central Command, told the committee: "Maybe it's something we're not doing right in the field. But I can tell you that when my soldiers ... ask me the question whether or not they've got support from the American people or not, that worries me. And they're starting to do that. So I would say we better have a frank discussion with ourselves. I am not against the debate."

Combined with Abizaid's acknowledgement that the insurgent and resistance fighters in Iraq are as strong as they were six months ago, this statement is a remarkably candid warning to U.S. politicians that the present course of U.S. policy in Iraq is in trouble.

I would expect nothing less than absolute candor from Abizaid - and the public should accept nothing less from everyone in the Bush administration.

Dan Smith is a military affairs analyst for Foreign Policy In Focus (online at http://www.fpif.org), a retired U.S. Army colonel, and a senior fellow on military affairs at the Friends Committee on National Legislation.

See new FPIF report online at:http://www.fpif.org/fpiftxt/158

With printer-friendly pdf version athttp://www.fpif.org/pdf/reports/PR0507abizaid.pdf

For Related Analysis from Foreign Policy In Focus

How the World Can Help Americans Halt Bush Administration War CrimesBy Jeremy Brecher and Brendan Smith (June 2005) http://www.fpif.org/papers/0506haltbush.html

Ending the U.S. War in Iraq: How to Bring the Troops Home and Internationalize the PeaceBy Phyllis Bennis and Erik Leaver (January 2005)http://www.fpif.org/papers/0501occupation.html

An "Affirmative Measure" to Help Prevent the Commission of War Crimes by the Bush AdministrationBy Jeremy Brecher (December 2004)http://www.fpif.org/papers/0412affmeasure.html

The Peace Movement One Year LaterBy Mark Engler (March 2004)http://www.fpif.org/papers/2004peace.html

Produced and distributed by FPIF:"A Think Tank Without Walls," a joint program of International Relations Center (IRC) and Institute for Policy Studies (IPS).

For more information, visit http://www.fpif.org. If you would like to add a name to the "What's New At FPIF" specific region or topic list, please email: communications@irc-online.org with "subscribe" and giving your area of interest.

26) FREE HIP HOP SHOW AND RALLY TO CLOSE CYA YOUTH PRISONSJoin us as we bring the community together with amazing Bay Area talent to speak out against the California Youth Authority and the prison industrial complex!WHAT: 4th Annual "Not Down with the Lockdown" Hip Hop Show and Rally to Close the CYA Youth PrisonsWHERE: Frank Ogawa Plaza, 14th St. and Broadway (Downtown Oakland)WHEN: Saturday, July 16, noon-2pmFREE! All ages!WITH SPECIAL GUEST PERFORMERS:-Mista F.A.B.-Boogie Shack-Company of Prophets-Fiyawata-Dream Dance Companyand many moreSponsored by Books Not Bars and Let's Get Free ( http://www.booksnotbars.org ) and The Beat Within.Contact Books Not Bars:e-mail: bnb@ellabakercenter.orgphone: 510.428.3939Get more information about the Books Not Bars "Alternatives for Youth" Campaign: http://ellabakercenter.org/bnb/campaignWe can't survive without the support of individuals like you. Please take a moment to support us today. Donate here: http://www.ellabakercenter.org/donate* Not on our list-serve yet? (Maybe this message was forwarded to you.) Sign up to get e-mail updates directly by going this web page: http://ellabakercenter.org/subscribe )

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27) Please forward widely Please forward widely JUSTICE FOR Sheila detoy and cammerin boyd COMMUNITY RALLY 5:00-6:00 PM WEDNESDAY JULY 20, 2005 SAN FRANCISCO CITY PLAZA DR. GOODLETT DR. ( ACROSS FROM S.F. CITY HALL) For ten years San Francisco Police Offices have killed with impunity.

We say no more

We call on the San Francisco Police Commission to end this reign of terror. Sheila Detoy: On May 13, 1998 san Francisco Police Officers Shot Up A Car full of Unarmed Teenagers and killed 17 year Old Sheila Detoy. SFPD then tried to blame her friends for her death. Cammerin Boyd: On Wednesday, May 5, 2004, San Francisco police officers shot and killed 29 year-old Cammerin Boyd in front of dozens of witnesses. Cammerin, who was disabled, was clearly and vocally surrendering. He had his hands above his head. But the police shot him anyway.

In the coming weeks the San Francisco Police Commission will begin holding hearings on both of these cases, come out and let them know we will accept nothing less than justice. For more information call (510)428-3939 x, 242 or e-mail malaika@ellabakercenter.org

In his book Saney writes, "The central contention of this book is that the Cuban experience offers significant insights into not only a different paradigm, but a paradigm that has been largely successful-especially given the objective limitations of a small, poor, underdeveloped island nation-in utilizing the country‚s resources and wealth for the public good. This book, intended as an introduction for students and the general reader, explores Cuba as it enters the twenty-first century, a lone island of anti-imperialism, anti-capitalism and socialism in the so-called Œage of globalization.‚ This work seeks to explain what some have called the Œmiracle‚ of the Cuban Revolution‚s survival in the face of an unprecedented economic contraction."

Isaac Saney is a member of the faculty at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia and regularly lectures on, writes about and conducts research in Cuba.

For more information, please contact 415/924-3227, mitf@igc.org, or www.mitfamericas.org.

A $5-10 donation is requested. No one turned away for lack of funds. Refreshments. Wheelchair accessible. Proceeds to benefit Pastors for Peace Cuba Caravan, July 2005.### ---------*---------*---------*---------*---------*--------

Recruiters OUT of our schools!Donate to help build a national movement against military recruiting and the draft.

Across the country, parents, teachers, and activists are taking action to protect students from the lies, manipulation, and abusive tactics of military recruiters.

In School Board meetings, Parent Teacher Associations, Student Governments, and other meetings across the U.S., parents and students are taking action--concerned parents have become such an obstacle that recruiters have identified them as the biggest obstacle to meeting their quotas. We need to continue to build on our success and drive military recruiters out of our schools.

Recruiters have no place in public schools--they are predators, who lie to young people and manipulate their economic situation in order to drag them away to fight wars of occupation. We have a right and an obligation to demand that they not be allowed to use schools to recruit cannon fodder for their illegal wars.

San Francisco - "College Not Combat!"

In San Franciso, parents and antiwar activists submitted a local ballot measure on Monday, July 11, that will, if passed, put the city on record opposing the presence of military recruiters in public high schools and colleges.

Organizers are working to gather enough signatures to place the initiative, called "College Not Combat," on the November ballot. It would encourage school officials to deny access to recruiters, even if that means the loss of Federal money. The initiative also encourages the creation of scholarships and training programs to challenge the military's appeal to disadvantaged youth.

One of the organizers, Ragina Johnson said, "We do not see George Bush's daughters signing up. It is poor and working-class people who need a job and education at the same time billions are being spent on this war."

Seattle - "School is no place for recruiters!"

The Parent Teacher Student Association of Garfield High School took a decisive step in May, voting 25 to 5 to adopt a resolution that says "public schools are not a place for military recruiters."

"The mission of the PTA is to protect and defend kids," said Amy Hagopian, a mother of three whose son is a Garfield senior. "It's not just limited to education issues - which explains why the PTA takes positions on kids' health, violence, and other serious issues."

She added, ""They're spending $4 billion a month in Iraq, but we have to cut our race relations class, which costs $12,500. That's an important class for our kids."

Steve Ludwig, whose son is a senior at Garfield, made a point shared by many in the PTSA: Garfield does not allow organizations that promote illegal activities to recruit students to perform those activities, nor does it allow organizations that discriminate on the basis of race, gender, national origin, or sexual orientation to recruit on campus.

Ludwig told the Christian Science Monitor, "Planned Parenthood, as far as I know, does not advocate or perform illegal acts. The US military does. He said he would not object if Army representatives came to Garfield to debate their ideas on torture or aggressive war. "What I object to is their coming here to recruit students to perform those acts," he said. "It's not about free speech."

Help Remove Military Recruiters from your schools!

The Army Recruiting Handbook for High Schools (available on the No Draft, No Way website) says that their goal is "school ownership." Our goal is to deny them that ownership. The schools belong to the people, not to the Pentagon.

Join the national movement against military recruiting. No Draft No Way is calling on parents, students, and local activists to work with your PTA, union, school board, city council, or student government to pass a resolution barring recruiters from your local schools. We are currently compiling a list of all such local initiatives -- if you are organizing a local initiative, you can list it here . Or contact us http://nodraftnoway.org/ndnwcomments.shtml for information and help to organize a local campaign.

Help Equip Local Counter-Recruiting Activists!

Activists across the country are joining the struggle to shut down military recruiting. No Draft No Way now has hundreds of local activists in all 50 states mobilizing to challenge recruiters and organize against the draft. It is imperative that we provide information and tools to these local organizers.

We Won't Go - A Guide to Counter-Recruiting and Draft Resistance will be an important contribution to this effort. This pocket-sized, 120-page book will be full of useful information and organizing tools for local activists.

This bood will include chapters on:

Military Recruiters' Lies - the truth behind the promises of easy college money and high-tech job training.Invasion of the Body Snatchers - the No Child Left Behind Act, JROTC, and the new Pentagon DatabaseChallenging Recruiters on Campus - including a section on students rights on campus, leaflets, petitionsOpting Out - how to organize a Opt Out campaign in your school so that students' personal information is not released to military recruitersInformation about organizing a local resolution opposing military recruiting.and much more

The book will be released with an accompanying CD which will contain:

Recrutiers Lies - leaflets and posters exposing the recruiting sales pitch point by point with space for local contact information.Petitions against ROTC and JROTCOpt Out forms with an explanation of the No Child Left Behind Act

We are rushing to get We Won't Go - A Guide to Counter-Recruiting and Draft Resistance to publication so that thousands of activists can use this material a part of a national campaign to educate and mobilize youth against militarism and the war. This book must be at the printers by July 31 in order for us to have it ready for the start of the new school year.

Can you help us with this urgent effort to publish We Won't Go - A Guide to Counter-Recruiting and Draft Resistance? We will include a special acknowledgement section in the book, showing appreciation for those who make a contribution to this effort. Your name can be listed there, or you can donate anonymously. (You can donate online at http://nodraftnoway.org/donate-new.shtml )

Please join us in this national campaign by helping to organize, do outreach, distribute educational materials, and donate to help with all aspects of organizing, especially the immediate publication of this book, which will be an invaluable resource for young people all over the country who want to oppose the very real dangers of militarization and war.

Donate to help build a national movement against military recruiting and the draft.

Wednesday, July 13, 2005

Manish Vaidya wrote: folks from the NLG asked that the following be passed on to activist listservs and organizations:

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS - DONT TALK - GET LEGAL ADVICE!If you are contacted by the FBI or other law enforcement officers, or subpoenaed to a grand jury, or if you are not a citizen and have a question about the impact of your political activity on your immigration status, call the National Lawyers Guild Post-9/11 Hotline, 415 285-1041.

CONGRATULATIONS TO COLLEGE NOT COMBAT! CAN’T WAIT FOR THE CAMPAIGN TO BEGIN!Press Conference to Submit College Not Combat Petitions for November Election Took Place Monday, July 11th; noonEast steps of City Hall, San Francisco

On July 11th 2005, College Not Combat activists delivered a remarkable 15,000 signatures to the Department of Elections at San Francisco's City Hall. These signatures, gathered by volunteers in just six weeks, represent public disapproval of military recruitment in the facilities of San Francisco's public high schools, colleges, and universities.

With the death toll of American soldiers in Iraq almost 1800, the US military is struggling to meet its recruitment goals. Consistently falling well below its monthly quotas, military recruiters are usinga number of tactics to persuade young people to join their ranks. Among these tactics is the presentation of economic incentives, used to make military service an appealing prospect to low-income youth.

Acknowledging the passing of last November's Proposition N, in which the people of San Francisco voted by 63% to "bring the troops safely home now", the College Not Combat petition also represents opposition to the policy that is driving the war in Iraq.

Speakers included:Aimee Allison - Green party member who is running for Oakland City Council.

Cindy Sheehan, lost her son Casey, a soldier in Iraq, in April of 2004 and is the founder of Gold Star Families for Peace.

2) SAN FRANCISCO MIME TROUPE PRESENTS: "DOING GOOD" A play based loosely on the book, "Confessions of an Economic Hit Man", by John Perkins. JULY 16, PRECITA PARK MUSIC: 1:30 P.M. SHOW: 2:00 P.M. (This play is fresh, new, brilliantly performed, insightful, full of content, and the music is the icing on the cake!...BW) SPONSORED BY BAY AREA UNITED AGAINST WAR Help get the word out about the ballot proposition and upcoming antiwar events. Free antiwar posters! FREE!

4) Cut all Public School Ties to the Military! Speak up and Picket the S.F. Board of Education the Fourth Tuesday of Each Month. Next picket line: Tuesday, July 27, 6:30 P.M.-7:30 P.M. (The July Board of Ed. meetings have been cancelled. But we will still hold a picket July 27 at 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. in front of the Board of Education building.) The next picket line after July 27 is August 23, 6:30 P.M. -7:30 P.M. (just before school starts back.) August 23, 6:30 p.m.-7:30 P.M. 555 Franklin St., S.F, To get on the speakers list call: 415-241-6427, 241-6493 or 241-6000 (For more info call: 415-824-8730)

6) Part-Time Forces on Active Duty Decline Steeply By ERIC SCHMITT and DAVID S. CLOUD Published: July 11, 2005"Eventually, the Pentagon could be forced to remobilize units that have already been deployed especially if recruiting problems persist, General Libby and other Guard officials said. That would require changing the 24-month limit, something the Pentagon says now it has no need to do. Military personnel experts say such a move would only worsen recruiting for the Guard and Reserve, which are both lagging behind their quotas for the year, although strong re-enlistments have offset some of the recruiting slump....For Pentagon planners, the main focus of concern is the Army National Guard and Reserve, which currently have 115,645 troops mobilized, or about 84 percent of all reserve forces activated worldwide."http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/11/politics/11reserves.html?ei=5094&en=bdef14b7f08346e6&hp=&ex=1121140800&adxnnl=1&partner=homepage&adxnnlx=1121100417-4gI5MgdvJcxq7ckIztz9mw

8) Cancer Drugs Offer Hope, but at a Huge Expense By ALEX BERENSON Published: July 12, 2005 "Ten thousand dollars once seemed a lot to pay for a few months' supply of a drug... But they are all highly expensive, up to $100,000 for a course of treatment that lasts a few months. That is hundreds of times the cost of older, more toxic cancer drugs, and several times the annual cost of AIDS drugs, whose prices caused widespread anger during the 1990's."http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/12/business/12cancer.html?hp&ex=1121227200&en=7c40d71f337a6617&ei=5094&partner=homepage

9) Man and Young Daughter Die in Shootout With Police By JOHN M. BRODER Published: July 12, 2005The child's mother, Lorena Lopez, said she had no doubt who fired the fatal shots. "The police killed my daughter," Ms. Lopez said, tearfully and in Spanish, in the driveway of her green frame house on the corner of Avalon Boulevard and 104th Street. She said she had told the police during the crisis that Mr. Pena, from whom she is separated, was depressed about his failing business. "I told them he needed to be helped," she said. Ms. Lopez said that no one from the police department had contacted her to explain how her daughter died. "I want the police to pay for this," she said.http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/12/national/12shooting.html

10) From No Man's Land to DisplacementDahr Jamail's Iraq Dispatcheshttp://dahrjamailiraq.comby Dahr Jamailfrom Left Turn Magazine

11) The Battle after the Battle By Les Blumenthal The News Tribune Sunday 10 July 2005 Soldiers say military pushes them to discharge before medical needs are met. The day before his 22nd birthday, a bomb hanging from a tree along a road near Fallujah exploded above Rory Dunn's Humvee. Dunn's forehead was crushed from ear to ear, leaving his brain exposed. His right eye was destroyed by shrapnel; the left eye nearly so. His hearing was severely damaged.http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/071105X.shtml

13) UN Occupation Forces Carry Out Massacre of Poor in Port-au-PrinceOn Wednesday morning, July 6th, at approximately 3:00 AM, UN occupationforces in Haiti carried out a major military operation in theworking-class neighborhood of Cite Soleil, one of the poorest inPort-au-Prince and also a stronghold of support for Haiti's majoritypolitical party Lavalas and President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Presumably,the purpose of the operation was to crack down on illegal "gang activity",in particular on "gang" leader Dread Wilme. In actuality, a US trade unionand human rights delegation in Port-au-Prince discovered evidence of amassacre conducted by the UN forces, targeting the larger communityitself.

2) SAN FRANCISCO MIME TROUPE PRESENTS: "DOING GOOD" A play based loosely on the book, "Confessions of an Economic Hit Man", by John Perkins. JULY 16, PRECITA PARK MUSIC: 1:30 P.M. SHOW: 2:00 P.M. (This play is fresh, new, brilliantly performed, insightful, full of content, and the music is the icing on the cake!...BW) SPONSORED BY BAY AREA UNITED AGAINST WAR Help get the word out about the ballot proposition and upcoming antiwar events. Free antiwar posters!

The premise of the play is that Marx dies yet he isable to see what's happening on earth for 100 years since his death in 1883. He is supposed to go back to Soho in London but, by mistake, is sent to Sohoin New York and finds himself on stage before an audience. Imagine all Karl Marx would have to say after one hundred years of just being able to watch...

The single actor in this one-man play is Jerry Levy, who has been teaching sociology at Marlboro College and been acting with the Actors' Theater of Brattleboro since he moved there from Chicago in 1975. Originally directed by Michael Fox Kennedy of the Actors' Theater, Levy has been on the road with Zinn's version of Karl Marx for a year, performing at benefits, colleges, small theaters and other venues around the state. At Middle Earth he was sponsored by the Bradford-based Coos Peace and Justice Alliance and performed free of charge but charged with mighty talent and a bottomless love of the play.

*The Jon Sims Center is located at 1519 Mission Street (between 11th Street and South Van Ness), South of Market, San Francisco, CA 94103 BY CAR: From the East Bay: Take 80 North then 101 North to the Mission Street exit. Stay on the right hand side of the exit. Turn right off the exit, and stay on Mission Street. The Jon Sims Center is two blocks past Van Ness, next to Firestone.

From the South Bay: Take 101 North to the Mission Street Exit. Stay on the right hand side of the exit. Turn right off the exit, and stay on Mission Street. The Jon Sims Center is two blocks past Van Ness, next to Firestone.

From the North Bay: Take 101 South to Lombard, make a right on Van Ness and then a left onto Mission. Jon Sims Center is two blocks past Van Ness, next to Firestone.

Parking: Daytime parking is very difficult. We encourage day users to take public transportation. In the evening, street parking along Mission Street, Minna Street and 11th Street is not horrible (in San Francisco terms) after 6:00 PM, but the closer you are to 6:00 PM, the better your chances of finding parking. There is no parking along Mission between 4-6 PM, and you will be promptly towed.

VIA BART/MUNI/SAMTRANS: Go to http://www.transitinfo.org for more information about Bay Area public transportation.

BART: Take BART to the Civic Center station, then transfer to the outbound Muni J,K,L,M or N train. Exit at the next stop (Van Ness Station). Walk 1 block south, cross Mission, and the Jon Sims Center is next to Firestone.

MUNI: The Jon Sims Center is 1 block south of the Van Ness Muni underground station, accessible from any Muni streetcar. Additionally, the 14 Mission, 42 Loop 49 and 47 Van Ness bus stop at Mission and 11th Street, only 1/2 block from the Jon Sims Center. Current Muni fare is $1.25.

SamTrans: The SamTrans DX, KX, MX, NX, PX, RX and TX buses stops at Mission and 9th Streets. Walk three blocks west (towards Sutro tower) to reach the Jon Sims Center. Current SamTrans fare is $1.10. Please note that SamTrans buses to the City only run during rush hours.

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4) Cut all Public School Ties to the Military! Speak up and Picket the S.F. Board of Education the Fourth Tuesday of Each Month. Next picket line: Tuesday, July 27, 6:30 P.M.-7:30 P.M. (The July Board of Ed. meetings have been cancelled. But we will still hold a picket July 27 at 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. in front of the Board of Education building.) The next picket line after July 27 is August 23, 6:30 P.M. -7:30 P.M. (just before school starts back.) August 23, 6:30 p.m.-7:30 P.M. 555 Franklin St., S.F, To get on the speakers list call: 415-241-6427, 241-6493 or 241-6000 (For more info call: 415-824-8730)

6) Part-Time Forces on Active Duty Decline Steeply By ERIC SCHMITT and DAVID S. CLOUD Published: July 11, 2005"Eventually, the Pentagon could be forced to remobilize units that have already been deployed especially if recruiting problems persist, General Libby and other Guard officials said. That would require changing the 24-month limit, something the Pentagon says now it has no need to do. Military personnel experts say such a move would only worsen recruiting for the Guard and Reserve, which are both lagging behind their quotas for the year, although strong re-enlistments have offset some of the recruiting slump....For Pentagon planners, the main focus of concern is the Army National Guard and Reserve, which currently have 115,645 troops mobilized, or about 84 percent of all reserve forces activated worldwide."http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/11/politics/11reserves.html?ei=5094&en=bdef14b7f08346e6&hp=&ex=1121140800&adxnnl=1&partner=homepage&adxnnlx=1121100417-4gI5MgdvJcxq7ckIztz9mw

8) Cancer Drugs Offer Hope, but at a Huge Expense By ALEX BERENSON Published: July 12, 2005 "Ten thousand dollars once seemed a lot to pay for a few months' supply of a drug... But they are all highly expensive, up to $100,000 for a course of treatment that lasts a few months. That is hundreds of times the cost of older, more toxic cancer drugs, and several times the annual cost of AIDS drugs, whose prices caused widespread anger during the 1990's."http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/12/business/12cancer.html?hp&ex=1121227200&en=7c40d71f337a6617&ei=5094&partner=homepage

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9) Man and Young Daughter Die in Shootout With Police By JOHN M. BRODER Published: July 12, 2005The child's mother, Lorena Lopez, said she had no doubt who fired the fatal shots. "The police killed my daughter," Ms. Lopez said, tearfully and in Spanish, in the driveway of her green frame house on the corner of Avalon Boulevard and 104th Street. She said she had told the police during the crisis that Mr. Pena, from whom she is separated, was depressed about his failing business. "I told them he needed to be helped," she said. Ms. Lopez said that no one from the police department had contacted her to explain how her daughter died. "I want the police to pay for this," she said.http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/12/national/12shooting.html

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10) From No Man's Land to DisplacementDahr Jamail's Iraq Dispatcheshttp://dahrjamailiraq.comby Dahr Jamailfrom Left Turn Magazine

The Iraqi/Jordanian border is a land of desolation. Coils of razor wirestretch into the desert whilst sun-grayed plastic bags caught in theirsharpness flap in the hot, dry winds. In No Man's Land, Jamail exposesyet another face of the human consequences of the US occupation of Iraq- the suffering and resistance of displaced Kurdish-Iranian andPalestinian refugees.

Long columns of trucks wait at the Jordanian border to carry their loadsof supplies into war-torn Iraq. When Iraqi drivers wish to enter Jordan,they now wait up to 18 days to be allowed in. The al-Karama border is aland of waiting, but not just for the truck drivers. There have beenothers waiting to enter Jordan for far longer. The refugee camp situatedin this bleak area is called No Man's Land camp because it literally isjust that: an area of land caught between the borders of two countrieswith nowhere else to go.

"If you leave me here I will die," said the elderly Merza Shahawaz as hewas groaning from the pain in his kidneys, "Please help me." In his tentcovered with plastic sheeting inside the camp, his wife was helping himsit up. He cannot sit without her holding him up.

"I ask you to help me. I plead for humanitarian people to help us now,"mumbled the 66 year-old man in dire need of dialysis. His family sittingnearby shed tears as they brushed flies away from their faces.

His 42 year-old son pleaded, "We are all dying slowly here. You see uswith your eyes, I ask for help. He is dying in front of his family'seyes but nobody is doing anything for him. We don't want our children'sfate to be this. Death is better than this life. If our children grow uplike this it means they are dead."

It is one example of the suffering of so many in the camp of over 700people.

*Hunger strike*

Kurdish-Iranian refugees have a long history of suffering. Initiallyhaving left Iran under persecution from the government over 20 yearsago, some of them were members of the Kurdish peshmerga militia whofought against fundamentalist Islamic rule and were lucky enough toescape with their lives. Many of them fled to Iraq, where the regime ofSaddam Hussein placed them in the al-Tash refugee camp, located 80 mileswest of Baghdad, which held over 12,000 Iranian Kurds.

Many of these refugees, after the US-led invasion of Iraq in spring of2003, said they were threatened by armed groups and told they had toleave. Several refugees I interviewed in No Man's Land camp said theywere instructed to leave Al-Tash by the US-backed Iraqi government.Palestinians, Iraqis, Jordanians and Syrian refugees were also in the mix.

At the time of the invasion the Jordanian government agreed to providetemporary protection for Iraqis fleeing the fighting and chaos in theircountry. But when the Iranian-Kurds from Al-Tash camp reached theJordanian border, they were denied access. Others were denied accessbecause they lacked valid passports. Already burgeoning with refugeesfrom Palestine and Iraq, the government of Jordan felt it had reachedits limits and denied access to future refugees.

While the local Jordanian Hashemite Charity Organization - with helpfrom the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), CAREInternational and other organizations - has been working to assist therefugees, it appears as though it is not enough.

A tattered sheet tied to a chain-link fence which surrounds No Man'sLand camp flittered in the wind. It read: "We Iranian Kurd refugees havegone on hunger strike because we have been paid no attention from UNHCRand they use demagogy policy towards our just issue and have not tendedto our demand which is resettlement in third countries. Dying once isbetter than daily death."

On the other side of the fence a tarp provides shade for 21 men who wereon hunger strike, demanding more assistance from UNHCR.

Omar Abdul Aziz, is 39 years old. He was living in Al-Anbar at Al-Tashcamp near Ramadi before he came here. "We used to live 23 years atAl-Tash camp," he explained, "After the war the horrible security came.Due to the fact that the occupation forces didn't control the borders,Iranian intelligence came into Iraq and began raiding Al-Tash, so we hadto leave."

The soft spoken man, weak with hunger nine days into the strike, sat ona mat while he talked. "I am on hunger strike because UNHCR didn't doanything for us. This is not the right place for women and kids to livein, and we have an unknown future. We have no solution here, only movingfrom camp to camp, from desert to desert."

Flies buzzed languidly about the faces of the downtrodden men in thetent as Aziz continued. "We don't want to go to Iraq because it isunstable and it is not our country. What has happened to us is due tothe illegal American invasion of Iraq. We ask the American people,appealing to their humanity, to evacuate us from this horriblesituation. We are the orphans of the international community. Theinternational community has kept their mouths closed about us, andespecially the Americans."

Others spoke of spending over two years in the horrible conditions ofthe camp where snakes, sandstorms and scorpions are a daily reality asthey languish in tents seeking shelter from the scorching desert sun.

"We are depressed and we are dying here," Zaman Shakary told me. Thefrustration of the 45 year-old man was vented in anger towards UNHCR."Condoleeza Rice goes and shakes hands with Barzani, but does nothingfor us here. I have given an order that if I lose consciousness 10 timesI will continue my hunger strike if UNHCR does not respond and help us.Humans cannot live this way."

Most of the refugees were asking for resettlement, but not necessarilyto another refugee camp. "We are asking for resettlement in anothercountry. I have been on hunger strike for 9 days, and my demands arethat if I die it is for life, I do not live for death," said SuwadyRashat. The 43 year-old added, "I want to tell the American people thatthe Iraqi government deprived us of what we need, and it is because ofthe invasion which has not truly benefited Iraqis."

Nearby sat a 6 year-old boy with a lost, sad look on his face,antagonized by flies. "I am here because my father is on hunger strikefor 9 days now," he told me, "Please, someone needs to help us here."

Another man in the camp, Hassan Sadiq, lived in the US for a year beforethe recent invasion. He returned to Iraq just before the invasion, thenfled to No Man's Land Camp as chaos engulfed Iraq. Prior to his time inAmerica, Sadiq had fled Iran because of his Human Rights advocacyagainst the regime there. He had initially spent time in the nearbyRuwaished camp - another refugee camp an hours drive into Jordan - wherehe went on hunger strike for 36 days in protest of UNHCR, who accordingto him, were not doing enough to assist him from being extradited backto Iran.

"Now UNHCR wants to close this camp and put us back in Ruwaished. When Iwas there I was under constant threat of being extradited back to Iraq.Now I'm concerned they will transfer us back to Ruwaished, which isnothing but a jail in the desert." His situation is reflective of manyothers in the camp. "I would like to say to the American government thatI remember George Bush says he is fighting for freedom. But by God, hereI need freedom and they have forgotten us. The US has been ignoring ussince 1974. The American government is responsible for us being here,because we are displaced because of the war."

The camp was fraught with health problems - without enough clean wateror medical care, diarrhea, minor respiratory problems, sore eyes, anddehydration abound. Many people tell me they have trouble breathing whensandstorms hit, which is several times each week.

In another tent a man told me his 13 year old son was killed on the roadby a passing truck. His wife aborted her fetus when fighting broke outnear the Iraqi border several months ago. There have been problems inthe camp, aside from the aforementioned health and depression symptoms.The hunger strike was aimed at UNHCR for not doing enough to help them;however, UNHCR recently managed to move the entire camp into Jordan.*Dismal Place*

On May 29, with the assistance of the Jordanian Hashemite CharityOrganization and CARE International, UNHCR moved the 743 residents of NoMan's Land camp to the Ruwaished refugee camp. The long struggle toobtain permission from the Jordanian government ended with the agreementthat UNHCR would vigorously pursue further solutions for the refugees,who were moved in three convoys.

Jaqueline Parleviet is the Senior Protections Officer for UNHCR inAmman, Jordan. "The hunger strike ended because of the move," Parlevietnoted. "All of the refugees I spoke with were happy to be moved. Theproblems and resistance we encountered inside the camp went away when wemoved them."

UNHCR is now pursuing the solutions of either voluntary return orresettlement to another country for each refugee in the Ruwaished camp,which is now filled with about 880 refugees. Yet Ruwaished camp, whileat least sitting inside a country, still remains a dismal place. Thereare no trees in sight of the wire fence enclosed spot in the middle ofthe desert.

While there are some improvements - residents can leave for shortshopping trips in nearby Ruwaished, CARE international is providing somevocational training and schooling, and the Jordanian Hashemite CharityOrganization is providing food, stoves, water and other necessities -the mood remains quite bleak.

Rahma Shaban left Palestine in 1948. Under the intense midday sun, shetold me of having to leave Iraq because of the horrible securitysituation after the invasion. "Baghdad is a great place," she added,"But I must have security for my children." Other refugees blame the newIraqi government for there difficulties. "I can't blame Iraqis for ourproblems," said Donia Baltergy, "I blame these Iraqis who came with theinvaders."

She began to cry as she continued to discuss her situation in the camp."It's difficult for us to live in this harsh place," she said whileholding her hands out while she pleads, "We've been sitting here for twoyears. They don't let us go out, they don't like for us to talk to thepress, they don't give us rights to do anything."

Like the former No Man's Land camp, the Ruwaished camp is plagued withsandstorms and scorpions, and the residents continue to endure healthproblems and cope with ongoing depression. There was little hope forchange when I visited, and many refugees expressed discontent towardsUNHCR and other organizations for not doing more to assist them.

According to Parleviet, some of the Somali and Sundanese refugees wereresettled in the US and Australia, along with 387 Iranian Kurdspreviously moved to Sweden. "We have cases pending now for the UK andIreland," she added. Yet despite small instances of success, therefugees recently relocated from No Man's Land are now united with 133other displaced people in the middle of the desert, close to one of theworst conflict zones on the planet today.

Discontent towards what has become of Iraq, the country most of thesepeople love and had to leave, continues to be vented at the US. Standingin front of a small brown tent used to teach women health classes, RahmaShaban exclaimed through tears, "The Americans said they were coming tohelp Iraqis. Now we see their lies, proven by the fact that they havedone nothing but cause us pain, suffering, and erased our future and thefutures of our children."

And until their situation is changed, these feelings will most likelypersist.

More writing, photos and commentary at http://dahrjamailiraq.com

You can visit http://dahrjamailiraq.com/email_list/ to subscribe or unsubscribe to the email list.

11) The Battle after the Battle By Les Blumenthal The News Tribune Sunday 10 July 2005 Soldiers say military pushes them to discharge before medical needs are met. The day before his 22nd birthday, a bomb hanging from a tree along a road near Fallujah exploded above Rory Dunn's Humvee. Dunn's forehead was crushed from ear to ear, leaving his brain exposed. His right eye was destroyed by shrapnel; the left eye nearly so. His hearing was severely damaged.http://www.truthout.org/docs_2005/071105X.shtml

Recently, the news columns were full of a supposed dispute between the Americans and the British about foreign aid relief to Africa. If the news reports are to be believed, the British wish to push the Americans further, to provide more debt relief for countries staggering under their economic burdens.

The media image that arises is one of the rich, Western, White nations caring about the lives and conditions of starving Black Africa. And like many media images, it simply isn't true.

What is often lost in this angelic imagery is the truth behind the so-called aid. That 'aid' that was given years ago, was given to military dictatorships, and it was often military aid meant to strengthen dictatorships, against, not foreign attacks, but popular resistance, from their own people!

Indeed, in a 1960 meeting of the U.S. National Security Council, American spies and diplomats spoke rather openly about U.S. support for military regimes. The minutes of the meeting record them saying:

We must recognize, although we cannot say it publicly, that we need the strong men of Africa on our side. It is important to understand that most of Africa will soon be independent and that it would be naive of the U.S. to hope that Africa will be democratic ... Since we must have the strong men of Africa on our side, perhaps we should in some cases develop military strong men as an offset to Communist development of the labor unions. The President agreed that it might be desirable for us to try to 'reach' the strong men of Africa ... [Fr. NSA mtg., 1/14/60 as published in *Foreign Relations, 1958-1960, Vol. XIV*, pp. 73-78.]

From meetings such as this, came US 'aid' to such dictators as Zaire's late Mobutu, who was among one of the wealthiest men in Africa, if not the world. Through 'African strong men' such as he, the U.S. ran many countries as neocolonies, through which they could further exploit the people of the continent.

The late U.S. President, Richard Nixon, spoke a powerful political truth when he said: "Let us remember that the main purpose of aid is *not to help other nations* but to help ourselves." [Fr. Graham Hancock, *Lords of Poverty* (New York: Atlantic Monthly Press, 1989, p. 71].

Think about it this way: when millions of dollars in military aid is given to a dictatorship, where does the money go? To the receiving country, or to the arms dealers and defense contractors which makes the weapons? So, how is this 'aid'?

It's aid to ourselves to arm forces that keep their own people in line. Also, since at least the 1970s, U.S. food aid has been tied to the myth of population control. In order to receive 'aid' from the nice, White, West -- African, Latin American and Asian countries have had to pledge they would reduce their populations.

Why would countries that are agricultural gardens of Eden even need food aid? That's because, after formal colonialism, Western powers often installed military dictators who spent the nation's resources on weapons used to break and destroy labor unions! A 1986 study by the National Academy of Sciences found that the single country of Zaire, alone, could feed it's own population -- 62 times over! Indeed, that one country, with high agricultural outputs, could feed the entire continent of Africa!

But, under the rapacious U.S. -supported military dictatorship of Mobutu, much of that agricultural potential, and it's vast wealth of resources, was squandered, and sent into Belgian and European banks.

The late, great Kwame Nkrumah said 'political independence, without economic independence, is but a mirage.'

The sweet words of 'aid' muttered by British and American officials to Africa is to lull the people asleep with promises.

It is, in truth, yet another plan to exploit people who have been exploited by outsiders for millennia.

True 'aid' is reparations, for the crimes of colonialism.

Real 'aid' would be an end to the support of military regimes.

Real 'aid' would be an end to political, economic, and social interference in the social, cultural and familial affairs of African people.

Real 'aid' would be an end to imperialism!

Copyright 2005 Mumia Abu-Jamal

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13) UN Occupation Forces Carry Out Massacre of Poor in Port-au-PrinceOn Wednesday morning, July 6th, at approximately 3:00 AM, UN occupationforces in Haiti carried out a major military operation in theworking-class neighborhood of Cite Soleil, one of the poorest inPort-au-Prince and also a stronghold of support for Haiti's majoritypolitical party Lavalas and President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Presumably,the purpose of the operation was to crack down on illegal "gang activity",in particular on "gang" leader Dread Wilme. In actuality, a US trade unionand human rights delegation in Port-au-Prince discovered evidence of amassacre conducted by the UN forces, targeting the larger communityitself.

According to accounts from many different members of the community, manyof whom chose to remain anonymous, as well as from journalists who were onthe scene during the operation, UN forces surrounded two neighborhoodswithin Cite Soleil, Boisneuf and Project Drouillard, sealing off thealleys with tanks and troops.

Two helicopters flew overhead. At 4:30 AM, UN forces launched theoffensive, shooting into houses, shacks, a church, and a school withmachine guns, tank fire, and tear gas. Eyewitnesses reported that whenpeople fled to escape the tear gas, UN troops gunned them down from theback.

UN forces shot out electric transformers in the neighborhood. People werekilled in their homes and also just outside of their homes, on the way towork. According to journalists and eyewitnesses, one man named LeonCherry, age 46, was shot and killed on his way to work for a flowercompany. Another man, Mones Belizaire, was shot as he got ready to go workin a local sweatshop and subsequently died from a stomach infection. Awoman who was a street vendor was shot in the head and killed instantly.

One man was shot in his ribs while he was trying to brush his teeth.Another man was shot in the jaw as he left his house to try and get somemoney for his wife's medical costs; he endured a slow death.Yet anotherman named Mira was shot and killed while urinating in his home.

A mother, Sena Romelus, and her two young children were killed in theirhome, either by bullets or by a 83-CC grenade UN forces threw. Filmfootage of many of these deaths was shared with the US human rightsdelegation. Eyewitnesses claimed that the offensive overwhelmed thecommunity and that there was not a "firefight", but rather a slaughter.The operation was primarily conducted by UN forces, with the HaitianNational Police this time taking a back seat.

Seth Donnelly, a member of the US human rights delegation inPort-au-Prince, visited Cite Soleil with Haitian human rights workers onThursday afternoon, July 7th. The team gathered testimony from manymembers of the community, young and old, men, women, and youth. Allverified the previous statements we had received from journalists andother eyewitness accounts.

These community members spoke of how they had been surrounded by tanks andtroops that sealed off exits from the neighborhoods and then proceeded toassault the civilian population. The community allowed the team to filmthe evidence of the massacre, showing the homes -- in some cases made oftin and cardboard -- that had been riddled by bullets, tank fire andhelicopter ammunition, as well as showing the team some of the corpsesstill there, including a mother and her two children.

The team also filmed a church and a school that had been riddled byammunition. Reportedly, a preacher was among the victims killed. Somecommunity members allowed the team to interview them, but not to filmtheir faces for fear of their lives. People were traumutized and, in thecases of loved ones of victims, hysterical.

Many community members -- again young and old, men and women -- spokehighly of Dread Wilme, referring to him as their "protector" or "father",and expressed fear for the future. One member said that he heard thatanother UN operation against the community was planned for later Thursdaynight or early Friday morning.

Multiple community people indicated that they had counted at least 23bodies of people killed by the UN forces. Community members claimed thatUN forces had taken away some of the bodies. Published estimates indicatethat upwards of 50 may have been killed and an indeterminate numberwounded, and that more than 300 heavily armed UN troops took part in theassault on this densely populated residential neighborhood.

"There was systematic firing on civilians," said one eyewitness to thekilling. "All exits were cut off. The community was choked off,surrounded -- facing tanks coming from different angles, and overhead,helicopters with machine guns fired down on the people. The citizens wereunder attack from all sides and from the air. It was war on a community."

The Labor/Human Rights Delegation from the United States, initiated by theSan Francisco Labor Council, had been in Haiti since late last month toattend the Congress of the Confederation of Haitian Workers (CTH), thecountry's largest labor organization, and met with hundreds of Haitianworkers, farmers and professionals about the current labor and humanrights situation in Haiti.

For more info and updates, visit http://www.haitiaction.net/

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14) Indiana Hunger Strike Alert

On July 1, 2005 the Indiana Department of Corrections partnered with a private food provider called Aramark Food Services. This company originates from Kentucky and they are completely violating the rights of prisoners. Aramark immediately dropped all religious diets for Muslim prisoners and prisoners who are vegetarian according to their respective religions. The meals are disproportionately lacking, and the trays have been reduced to 90 cent servings. They would insult an infant child.

In the spirit of exposing what is occurring by this new food provider, several prisoners are forced to participate in a collective hunger strike. Indiana Political Prisoner Brotha Khalfani Malik Khaldun is one of those prisoners who has stepped up to make this sacrifice for other prisoners who lack such discipline to endure a hunger strike. Your help is needed, they need your help to bring attention to this food problem that is affecting the entire prison population at the Secured Housing Unit in Indiana. We are calling on you who read this message to protest these conditions and express your concerns about the health of the prisoners. Khalfani needs our help. The following people can be called, e-mailed or written on behalf of the hungerstrikers.

State officials:

J. David Donahue (Commissioner)

Indiana Department of Corrections I.G.C. South

302 W. Washington St.

Indianapolis, Indiana 46204-2738

Phone: (317) 232-5111 or fax (317) 232-6798

e-mail junderwood@coa.doc.state.in.us

United States Senator

Evan Bayh

1650 Market Tower

10 W. Market St.

Indianapolis, Indiana 46204

(317) 554-0750

Indiana Ombudsman Bureau

Charlene A. Navarro

Indiana Gov. Center South

402 W. Washington St. Rm. W479

Indianapolis, Indiana 46204

(317) 234-3190

e-mail ombud@idoa.in.gov

Governor of Indiana

Mitchell Daniels

Office of the Governor

State House Rm. 206

200 W. Washington St.

Indianapolis, Indiana 46204-2797

Phone: (317) 232-4567

Fax: (317) 232-3443

Pam Pattison

Prison Spokeswoman

Ind. Dept. of Corrections I.G.C. South

302 W. Washington St.

Indianapolis, Indiana 46204-2738

Phone: (317) 232-5111

Fax: (317) 232-6798

e-mail ppattison@coa.doc.state.in.us

These officials must be pressured to do what is right. Demand that Khalfani be transferred to another facility. We thank you all for your help and comradely support. Letters can be sent to Khalfani Malik Khaldun at:

The State has no right to starve prisoners. Feeding pork to a Muslim or a Jew is disregarding the right to worship according to one's own beliefs-that is denying freedom of religion. Everyone in this country has that right whether you are a prisoner or not.

Vegetarians also have the right to not eat meat. Even prisoners have the right to remain healthy and alive.

It is not as if these food issues are difficult to deal with. These food requirements are simple and inexpensive. So the only real explanation for not abiding by them is because of prejudice against these beliefs by you who are in control. These are not animals in a cage. These prisoners are human beings. Some of them are even innocent of the crimes they have been convicted of. Surely you realize this statistical probability?

Allow each prisoner these basic human rights.

Yours truly,

Bonnie Weinstein, Bay Area United Against War (www.bauaw.org)San Francisco, California